Of course list your activities. For example, if you have been a leader with BBYO - that is nothing to “hide”!

Does anyone think there will be backlash against Jewish studies applicants (where many essays touch on Jewish identity) now given the war in Iran? Backlash against Jewish students?

Or instead, do you think that this new Harvard lawsuit will deter that type of bias?

Anonymous wrote:My child did International Relations major with strong Jewish ECs. The ECs were academically oriented, not religious. They did not want to do Jewish studies. They got into their top choice college.

What are some academically oriented non-religious Jewish ECs?

Anonymous wrote:I think it's a net negative now:

See this thread on "spiritually Israeli" - very disheartening.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1317666.page

It’s not a net negative, but you have to be strategic. Approach it from a niche academic perspective, not a religious perspective. Scrub your ECs of religious activities. Same advice for Christian, Hindu, Muslim applicants. Religion, in my opinion, is better left off an application.

But if you are a prospective Jewish studies major, you could have some really interesting ECs - academic research, internships, independent interests, blogs or podcasts, summer study abroads, language studies, and of course you should also have ECs that are unrelated — to give balance to your profile.

I think it's a net negative now:

See this thread on "spiritually Israeli" - very disheartening.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1317666.page

I know a few who are waiting to hear from T20 this month. Unclear how current macro events might impact any identity essays etc?

Imagine most decisions are made?

My child did International Relations major with strong Jewish ECs. The ECs were academically oriented, not religious. They did not want to do Jewish studies. They got into their top choice college.

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone had Ed! or ED2 luck disclosing Jewish identity in essays, etc., and/or declaring a Jewish Studies major at selective schools so far?

Which schools? Major?

Curious about this as well this cycle. Esp for students who list Jewish Studies as a major or academic interest? Junior parent here. Please share your wisdom.

Has anyone had Ed! or ED2 luck disclosing Jewish identity in essays, etc., and/or declaring a Jewish Studies major at selective schools so far?

Which schools? Major?

Michigan, of course!

https://lsa.umich.edu/judaic

Anonymous wrote:I would look at IU to add to your list. They have Yiddish as a language and a variety of related courses.

+1

I know someone who was a Jewish Studies major at IU. This was 20 years ago so not recent. I'm also an IU grad but from even further back and while I'm Jewish (so is she) I wasn't a Jewish studies major.

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone have success in ED or early selective rounds with Jewish Studies as a listed academic interest/major?

Curious for my DC with ample Jewish-related activities and research (next cycle).

A boy in our school with mediocre stats got in at any ivy.

Anonymous wrote:Jew here - no one is discriminating against Jewish kids in the admissions process anymore. Just apply to programs that have Jewish Studies, if anything it's a boost to demonstrate interest for a less commonly studied program.

Also a jew - do you really think no is discriminating? I agree with just applying but I am not sure its fair to say there isn't any discrimination out there in admissions.

Did anyone have success in ED or early selective rounds with Jewish Studies as a listed academic interest/major?

Curious for my DC with ample Jewish-related activities and research (next cycle).

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t read all the posts but there are a couple of fb groups where you could get good information, including from Jewish parents whose kids have applied recently and Jewish parents who work at various schools.

Not to be rude but I doubt anyone who pays for SH’s advice would share it here for free (I’m past this stage and did not use SH when my kids were applying).

Which FB groups would be helpful for this?